Spent fuel continues to plague nation's nuclear power plants

Evan Brandt’s story, “Gov’t Shutdown May Delay Relicensing of Limerick Nuke Plant” on Oct. 5 was timely. However, the delay in relicensing has not slowed Limerick operations. Every year that Limerick operates, it creates tons of high-level radioactive wastes, deceptively called “spent fuel.”

There is nothing “spent” about this high-level radioactive waste. It is one of the most deadly materials on earth. “Spent fuel” rods can cause cancer or genetic damage to an unshielded person who stands next to it after only 30 seconds. It can cause a lethal dose of radiation in just three minutes.

Massive amounts of this waste are stored on site at Limerick in fuel pools and above ground casks. On-site storage presents enormous risks to our entire region. Exelon would like to transport Limerick’s radioactive waste off-site to avoid liability, but transport presents astronomical health and financial risks to us and potentially all Pennsylvania residents.

Transportation of “spent fuel” has been dubbed a “mobile Chernobyl.” Even the DOE acknowledges that accidents will happen. It estimates that radiation releases from just one nuclear transport accident could devastate at least 42 square miles for generations.

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Even at low speeds on road or rail, there could be truck or train accidents leading to catastrophic radioactive fires.

Transport is especially dangerous here in Pennsylvania where roads and bridges are “crumbling” (Governor Corbett’s description). Transporting nuclear waste on Pennsylvania’s inadequate infrastructure is simply immoral and unethical. The NRC estimated that just one transport accident or terrorist attack involving nuclear waste could cost the public as much as $2 billion.

Victims along the route would lose their homes, property and possessions. Homeowners insurance would not cover a radiation transport accident. In fact, even without an accident, it was reported that property values have already declined in five states along nuclear waste routes.

Local officials should have the right to say no to radioactive waste transport through their communities. Philadelphia, Bucks County and Falls Township officials have already said “no.” But the right of these officials to say no could be taken away by Harrisburg politicians who are being heavily lobbied by the nuclear industry to overrule local officials.

Transporting Limerick’s waste off site would present unacceptable risks to all Pennsylvania residents. Limerick has far more “spent fuel” on-site than Fukushima, even though Limerick has half the reactors. Once the spent fuel goes off-site, Exelon is no longer liable for it. As soon as it’s off-site we, the people, are required to assume liability for any radiation disaster involving transport.

Call Pennsylvania state senators and representatives. To protect your property values and homes, urge them to uphold the right of local officials to say “no” to the transportation of high-level nuclear waste (“spent fuel”) on Pennsylvania’s crowded and degraded infrastructure.

For more detailed information on high-level radioactive waste transport go to www.acereport.org, and see #9 “High-Level Radioactive Wastes: A Ticking Time Bomb.”